Tacoma1313

If I remove my head to replace my timing chain guides and I haven't had a head gasket failure, do I still need to get my head resurfaced?

22RE Motor 115,700 original miles on it. It has run flawlessly since I bought it a month and a half ago.

dbd6604

I would at the very last have it checked for warpage. If it's within specs, don't worry about it. If it's out of spec, have it resurfaced.

JJ'89

If its never been overheated, its not likely to be warped. But...you will never get as good a headgasket installation as you have now, assuming that at that mileage the head has nevre been disturbed. You can do the timing chain job without disturbing the head. Search a little bit on this site for a link to the how=to-do-it. I did mine that way at 145,000 miles. The drivers side guide was broken and some pieces are in the sump. I don't worry about it. The cover was grooved. I replaced it with one form enginbuilder. Didn't disturb the pan or head. Works good at 177,000 miles. No leaks. Used Permatex gray RTV. Good luck. I only removed the two front pan screws, as mentioned. Where I break with his recommendation is removing the pan to clean up the debris from broken plastic chain guides. I didn't, and I dont worry about it. I don't think it likely to clog the oil pickup. So far 32,000 mile it hasn't.

If doing it again, I'd use Toyota or Aisn parts. I just got a timing kit from Rockauto and the factory parts and gaskets that aren't available from aftermarket. Use a real harmonic damper puller. I apparently damaged mine by "gently tapping it off" with a mallet. Probably needed a new one anyway at that mileage. Good luck on it.

AKHeathen

x2, you don't have to remove the head to do it, just don't forget that little front cover bolt hiding in the pool of oil at the very front of the head, in front of the cam sprocket. i've seen that one missed so many times and people trying to pry the cover off. heck, first time i did one 15 years ago, i almost missed it myself.

Tacoma1313

So it will seal well without removing the head? Should i xacto the timing cover portion of the head gasket off at the corners and just go full FIPG?
Also, for the oil pan, how does one manuver the timing cover in between the head and pan w/o srewing up the seals?
Any special technique?
Thanks.

JJ'89

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ingChain.shtml You have to be careful and have a bit of luck. Its a few years since I did mine, but I didn't cut anything as I remember. I was able to carefully ease the old timing cover out without damaging the gaskets. Dull screwdriver won't be the best tool for this. Use some RTV but don't go overboard. Worst case...you are not lucky, and have to replace the head and pan gasket. But that's a lot of hassle that has been avoided by many of us.

I only removed the two front pan screws, as mentioned. Where I break with his recommendation is removing the pan to clean up the debris from broken plastic chain guides. I didn't, and I dont worry about it. I don't think it likely to clog the oil pickup. So far 32,000 mile it hasn't.

If doing it again, I'd use Toyota or Aisn parts. I just got a timing kit from Rockauto and the factory parts and gaskets that aren't available from aftermarket. Use a real harmonic damper puller. I apparently damaged mine by "gently tapping it off" with a mallet. Probably needed a new one anyway at that mileage. Good luck on it.

Tacoma1313

Thanks for the responses.
Just have to cross my fingers that I dont get any busted bolts. Having to helicoil my thermostat housing was not fun.